Fluid pressure oil well pump



April 18, 1961 R. o. DULANEY FLUID PRESSURE OIL wELL PUMP 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 21, 1959 Pug-2E:

INVENTOR.

E/CHA 20 0. 004 A/VE Y April 18, 1961 DULANEY 2,980,027

FLUID PRESSURE OIL WELL PUMP FLUID PRESSURE OIL WELL PUMP Richard 0. Dulaney, 1403 Continental National Bank Bldg, Fort Worth, Tex.

Filed Aug. 21, 1959, Ser. N st-5,348 3 Claims. (c1; tea-46 This invention relates to pumps, and more particularly to a pumpparticularly adapted for use to pump small oil wells which do not produce sufiicient fluid to lift the sand which accompanies the oil, so that it is necessary to supply fluid to the Well to keep the sand in motion.

A main object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved oil well pump which is simple in construction, which is efficient in operation, and which, operates by applying fluid under pressure thereto.

rates ,atent O y A further object of the invention is to provide an improved pump especially adapted for use with small oil wells which do not produce enough fluid to. lift the sand accompanying the oil. in the well, and whereinit is necessary to furnish additional fluid to keep the sand in motion, the pump being relatively inexpensive to fabricate, being durable in construction, and being varranged so that it reciprocates automatically responsive.

to the application of liquid under pressure thereto.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent. from the following. description and claims, and from the accompanyingv drawings, wherein; Figure l is a vertical cross-sectional View taken. through the main casing of an. oil well provided with an improved pump assembly constructed, in accordance with the present invention. v

Figure 2A is an enlarged vertical. cross-sectional view showing the upper portion of the cross-section obtained on the line 2AB2A-B ofFigure 1., 7 Figure 2B is an enlarged cross-sectional. view showing the lower portion of the cross-section obtained on the line 2A-B 2A-B of Figure 1.

Figures 3A and 3B are enlarged. vertical cross-sectional views, similar to Figures 2A and 2B, but showing the arrangement of the parts of the pump when the pump piston and the tubular sleeve member associated therewith are in their elevated positions.

Figure 4 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 3A.

Figure Sis a horizontal cross-sectionalview taken on the line 55 of Figure 3A.

Figure 6 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 3A.

Referring to the drawings, 11 generally designates an oil well which is provided with'an improved pump assembly according to the presenting invention. The oil well 11 comprises the substantially vertical main casing 28 in which is concentrically mounted-an auxiliary casing 12 which comprises the housing for the pump assembly. The auxiliary casing 12; is substantially smaller in diameter than the inside diameter of the main; casing 28 and therefore defines an annular space 13 adapted to receive pressure fluid, as. will be presently described. At its lower enda liquid inlet conduit 14 is connected to the annular bottom cap member 1 5 of theauxiliary casin 12,. an upwardlyopening ball check valve 16 being provided centrally in the member 1 nd bein 13' Patented "Apr; '18, 19 1 apertured chamber 17 which is adapted to receive the oil in the bottom of the well whereby the oilis admitted to the liquid inlet conduit 14 and is forced upwardly by the action of the pump, as will be presently described.

The liquid inlet conduit 14 extends through a packing member 18 which substantially seals off the lower portion of the annular space 13 with respect to the subjacent portion of the interior of maincasing 28.

The auxiliary casing 12 comprises the top and bottom tubular segments 19 and 20 which are axially aligned and connected together by an intervening annular guide bushing 25. As shown in Figure 2A, the top egment 19 is threadedly engaged on the upper portion of the guide bushing 25 and the lower segment 20 is threadedly engaged on the lower portion of guide bushing 25. The guide bushing 25 is provided with the circularly arranged, substantially vertical exhaust passages 23 which extend vertically therethrough and which are uniformly spaced around the bushing. A vertical, tubular sleeve member 22 extends slidably and sealingly through the guide bushing 25 and is provided at its lower end with an upwardly opening check valve 24 adaptedfto. allow liquid to flow upwardly from the auxiliary casing into the tubular sleeve member 22.

Designated at 31 is a valve sleeve which is slidably and sealingly mounted in the auxiliary casing 12 above the guide bushing 25. A first annular valve element 33 is secured on the lower end of the valve sleeve 31, the valve element 33 being sealingly engageable over the exhaust passages 23 when the sleeve 31 is. in the lowered position thereof illustrated in Figure 2A. The valve element 33 is substantially larger in internal diameter 7 than the top end of the tubular sleeve member 22, where,-

positioned over the top. end ofthe liquid inlet conduit.

14; At its lower end the conduit 14 merges with an by to define an annular clearance space 48 between the inside'surface of the valve element 33 andsaid sleeve member 22. The upper segment 19 of the auxiliary casing 12 and the valve element 33 are formed with registrable apertures 37 and 38 which register when the sleeve 31 is in its lowered position shown in Figure 2A and which establish communication between the pressure fluid space 13' and the clearance space 48 under thes conditions, as is illustrated in Figure 2A.

Designated at 41 is an annular piston which is secured to the top end of the tubular sleeve member 22 above the clearance space 48. The annular piston 41 is engageable with a plurality of substantially vertically ex tending, circularly arranged force-transmitting springs 42. secured to the top surface of the valve element 33.. When the piston 41 is in its lowered position, shown in Figure 2A, said piston is adapted to transmit downward force to the valve sleeve 31,. through springs 42 and the annular bottom valve element 33.

As shown in Figure 2A, the annular piston 41 is slidably and sealingly engaged inside the valve sleeve 31, and is also slidably and sealingly engaged around a depending inner sleeve 26 which extends slidably and, sealingly into the tubular sleeve member 22. The top end of the inner sleeve 26 is centrally secured in anannular wall 35 threadedly engaged in the top end of the upper segment 19 of auxiliary casing 12 and merg ing with the upwardly extending annular conduit 27 which is threadedly engaged on the lower end of a vertical liquid outlet conduit 29, through which oil elevated by the pumpis adapted to be discharged. An upwardly opening check valve 30 is mounted centrally on the annular wall 35 over the top end of the depending inner sleeve 26.

The annular wall 35 is formed with the. circularly. arranged substantially vertical exhaust passages32 which are evenly spaced around the axis of the. wall. 35,, as?

and which is sealingly engageable with the bottom of the annular wall 35 to close oil the passages 32 when the valve sleeve 31 is in an elevated position, for example, in the position illustrated in Figure 3A. The second annular valve element 36 has an inside diameter substantially larger than the outside diameter of. the inner sleeve 26 so as to define an annular clearance space 59 between the valve element 36 and the inner sleeve 26. p .The annular valve element 36 and the upper portion 'of the top segment 19 of auxiliary casing 12 are formed with a plurality of registrable passages 39 and 40 which are placed in'registry when the valve sleeve 31 is in j'the'elevated position thereof shown in Figure 3A, namefly, when the upper valve element 36 sealingly engages under the exhaust passages 32. Secured to and depend- ,ing from the upper valve element 36 are a plurality'of circularly arranged force-transmitting coil springs 44 :adapted to be engaged by the annular piston 41 whereby the annular piston 41 may transmit upward force through the valve element 36 and thus to the valve sleeve 31. In operation, fluid, such as oil, is pumped down through the main casing 28 and enters the clearance space 48 beneath piston 41 through the registering aperjturs 37 and 38, with the parts arranged as shown in Figures 2A and 2B. The pressure fluid acts on the bottom of the piston 41, elevating same so as to bring the piston into engagement with the force-transmitting coil springs 44 and so as to thus exert upward force on the 'valve sleeve 31 through the annular upper valve element 36. Eventually the piston 31 rises sufficiently to cause the springs 44 to suddenly elevate the valve sleeve 31, driving the annular valve member 36 sealingly against the bottom of the wall 35, the valve element 36 and the sleeve 31 moving upwardly relatively suddenly with respect to the annular piston 41 because of the inertia of the member 41 and the depending tubular member 22 to which it is attached. Therefore, the annular valve element 36 seals oiT the passages 32 and at the same time causes the apertures 33 and 40 to come into registry. Simultaneously, the bottom valve element 33 is lifted off the guide bushing 25, exposing the exhaust passages 23. This allows pressure fluid to be rapidly admitted through the passages 39 and 49 into the space in sleeve 31 above the piston 41, while allowing the space 48 below the piston to quickly exhaust through passages 23, space 49 below guide bushing 25, and check valve 24. At this point, the force of the pressure fluid plus that of the springs 44 suddenly acts on-the piston 41 to drive the piston downwardly against the springs 42, causing the sleeve 31 and the valve member 33 to return to their starting positions, illustrated in Figures 2A and 2B. This moves the passages 39 and 4%) out of registry, while moving the passages 38 and 37 into registry, thus producing a repetition of the above described cycle of events.

It will thus be seen that the tubular sleeve member 22 is reciprocated vertically in a continuous manner, since it follows the vertical reciprocation of the piston 41. Liquid enters the lower portion of the tubular sleeve member 22 through the upwardly opening check valve 24 when the sleeve member 22 is moved downwardly and is elevated when the sleeve member 22 is moved upwardly. The upward motion of the sleeve member 22 lifts liquid from the bottom of the auxiliary casing 12 and produces suction in the inlet conduit 14, drawing liquid upwardly into the lower portion of aux iliary casing 12 through the upwardly opening check valve 16.

As shown in Figure 5, the registrable passages 39 and 40 are radially arranged and may be maintained in alignment by providing any suitable means for preventing relative rotation between the sleeve 31 and the auxiliary casing 12 while allowing. the sleeve to reciprocate lessons? t vertically in the auxiliary casing. Thus, a vertical key 60 may be slidably engaged in suitable opposing keyways provided in the members 19 and 36, as shown in Figure 5, to prevent relative rotation of the members.

While a specific embodiment of an improved oil Well pump has been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood that various modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended that no limitations be placed on the invention except as defined by the scope of the appended. claims.

What is claimed is:'

1. In a pump ot-the character described, a vertical main casing, an auxiliary casing mounted concentrically in said main casing and defining a pressure fluid space therebetween, means sealing the lower portion of said space, an apertured liquid inlet chamber depending from and communicating with said auxiliary casing, an annular guidebushing secured in the intermediate portion of said auxiliary casing, said bushing being formed with an exhaust passage extending vertically therethrou'gh, a

tubular sleeve member extending slidably and sealingly through said guide bushing and being provided atits lower end with an upwardly opening check valve, a valve sleeve slidably and sealingly mounted in said auxiliary casing above said guide bushing, a first annular valve element on the lower end of said valve sleeve sealingly engageable over said exhaust passage, said valve element being spaced from the tubular sleeve member to define a clearance space, saidauxiliary casing and valve element being formed with horizontal registrable apertures arranged to establish communication between said pressure fluid space and said clearance space when the valve sleeve is in a lowered position in said auxiliary casing, an annular piston secured to said tubular sleeve member above said clearance space and slidably and sealingly engaged in said valve sleeve, a vertical liquid outlet conduit secured to the top end of said auxiliary casing, an annular wall at the bottom end of said liquid outlet conduit, a depending inner sleeve centrally secured in said annular wall and extending slidably and sealingly through said piston into said tubular sleeve member, said annular wall being formed with an exhaust passage extending vertically therethrough, a sec ond annular valve element secured on the top end of said valve sleeve sealingly engageable beneath said last named exhaust passage repsonsive to elevation of said valve sleeve, said second annular valve element being spaced from said. inner sleeve to define a second clearance space, said auxiliary casing and second annular valve element being formed with horizontal passages registrable when the valve sleeve is elevated to sealingly engage under said last named exhaust passage and being constructed and arranged to establish communication between said pressure fiuid space and said second clearance space, force-transmitting resilient means between the annular piston and said second annular valve element, and force-transmitting resilient means between said annular piston and the first annular valve element.

2. In a pump of the character described, a vertical main casing, an auxiliary casing mounted concentrically in said main casing and defining a pressure fluid space therebetween, means sealing the lower portion of said space, an apertured liquid inlet chamber depending from and communicating with said auxiliary casing, an annular guide bushing secured in the intermediate portion of said auxiliary casing, said bushing being formed with an exhaust passage extending vertically therethrough, a tubular sleeve member extending slidably and sealingly through said guide bushing and being provided at its lower end with an upwardly opening check valve, a valve sleeve slidably and sealingly mounted in said auxiliary casing above said guide bushing, a first annular valve element on the lower end of said valve sleeve sealingly engage able over said exhaust passage, said valve element being spaced from the tubular sleeve member to define a clearance space, said auxiliary casing and valve element being formed with horizontal registrable apertures arranged to establish communication between said pressure fluid space and said clearance space when the valve sleeve is in a lowered position in said auxiliary casing, an annular piston secured to said tubular sleeve member above said clearance space and slidably and sealingly engaged in said valve sleeve, a vertical liquid outlet conduit secured to the top end of said auxiliary casing, an annular wall at the bottom end of said liquid outlet conduit, a depending inner sleeve centrally secured in said annular wall and extending slidably and sealingly through said piston into said tubular sleeve member, said annular wall being formed with an exhaust passage extending vertically therethrough, a second annular valve element secured on the top end of said valve sleeve sealingly engageable beneath said last named exhaust passage responsive to elevation of said valve sleeve, said second annular valve element being spaced from said inner sleeve to define a second clearance space, said auxiliary casing and second annular valve element being formed with horizontal passages registrable when the valve element is elevated to sealingly engage under said last named exhaust passage and being constructedand arranged to establish communication-between said pressure fluid space and said second clearance space, forcetransmitting resilient means between the annular piston and said second annular valve element, force-transmitting resilient means between said annular piston and the first annular valve element, and an upwardly opening check valve on said annular wall at the top end of said 7 depending inner sleeve.

3. In a pump of the character described, a vertical main casing, an auxiliary casing mounted concentrically in said main casing and defining a pressure fluid space therebetween, means sealing the lower portion of said space, an apertured liquid inlet chamber depending from and communicating with said auxiliary casing, an upwardly opening check valve at the top end of said liquid vided at its lower end with an upwardly opening check valve adapted to allow liquid to flow upwardly from said auxiliary casing into said tubular sleeve member, a valve sleeve slidably and sealingly mounted in said auxiliary casing above said guide bushing, a first annular valve element on the lower end of said valve sleeve sealingly engageable over said exhaust passage, said valve element being spaced from the tubular sleeve member to define a clearance space, said auxiliary casing and valve element being formed with horizontal registrable apertures arranged to establish communication between said pressure fluid space and said'clearance space when the valve sleeve is in a lowered position in said auxiliary let conduit secured to the top end, of said auxiliary inlet chamber adapted to allow liquid to flow upwardly from said inlet chamber into said auxiliary casing, an

annular guide bushing secured at the intermediate portion of said auxiliary casing, said bushing being formed casing, an annular wall at the bottom end of said liquid outlet conduit, a depending inner sleeve centrally secured in said annular wall and extending slidably and sealingly through said piston into said tubular sleeve member, said annular wall being formed'with an exhaust passage extending vertically therethrough, a second annular-valve element secured on the top end of said valve sleeve sealingly engageable beneath said last named exhaust passage responsive to elevation of said valve sleeve, said second annular valve element being spaced from said inner sleeve to define a second clearance space, said auxiliary casing and second annular valve element being formed with horizontal passages registrable when the sleeve is elevated to sealingly engage under said last named exhaust passage and being constructed and arranged -to establish communication between said pressure fluid space and said second clearance space, force-transmitting resilient means between the annular piston and said second annular valve element, force-transmitting resilient means between said annular piston and the first annular valve element, and an upwardly opening check valve on said annular wall at the top end of said'depending inner sleeve adapted to allow liquid to flow 11pwardly from said inner sleeve into said liquid outlet conduit.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 784,435 Russell Mar. 7, 1905 1,614,765 Tucker Jan. 18,1927 2,190,535

Robertson Feb. 13, 1940 

